Religion

The Will Power to Stand in the Face of Death

Published

9 years ago

January 21, 2015

by Pastor E.A. Deckard
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

“The best thing I’ve ever done, the best thing I will ever do is be a dad to Taelor and Sydni. I can’t ever give up because I can’t leave my daughters. I love you girls more than I will ever be able to express. You are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage tonight because of you.” – Stuart Scott

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
– Henry Ford

Forward Thinkers, this week I was amazed at the will power to stand in the face of death as I heard about seven year old Sailor Gutzler. Sailor’s parents and other family members were killed in a plane crash. Sailor, the sole survivor was wearing a tee shirt and short pants at the time of the crash but did not panic after trying to wake her parents up. Forward Thinkers, she took a broken branch from a tree hit by the fallen plane and stuck it in the fire coming from the crashed plane and began walking through the dark and cold forest almost a mile before finding help. Later when asked how she made it, Sailor replied,” my daddy had taught me how to hike so I did what he had taught me.” At the memorial service a family member asked her how was she able to remain so calm and she replied, “my mom and dad would want me to be strong.”

Forward Thinkers, there is so much we can learn from Sailor and her parents: the importance of a father coaching his children, the benefits of being in a strong family/household, and the value of following instructions.

Forward Thinkers, the enemy will continue to aggressively attack the position of “Fatherhood” because, the enemy understands how important the voice of a father is to the success of his family.

Forward Thinkers, Sailor didn’t figure out during a life crisis what to do; she had been prepared throughout her life for what to do.

Forward Thinkers, the role of whatever church you attend and sow your finances into should be to prepare you for the issues of “life” before you have to experience the issues of life. Forward Thinkers, every time you miss church, you miss a “life” lesson.

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

2 Kings 20 New King James Version (NKJV)

20 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”

Forward Thinkers, in the 23^rd Psalm, David says, “I walk through” (the Message bible calls it Death Valley). The key word here is “WALK.” David is saying, I keep moving no matter what I’m facing and I refuse to quit here in the Valley of Death. Forward Thinkers, David is encouraging us not to lay here and die in the midst of our current situation but find the “willpower” to keep moving. Forward Thinkers, David reminds us that we still have a choice to make. No one chooses cancer, ALS, or any other life threatening disease but, if one happens to choose us, we still have a choice to keep the faith and keep on fighting through it.

Forward Thinkers, David says I will not let fear win. As people of faith, we can’t allow the fear of the unknown to defeat us into forgetting what is known.

Forward Thinkers, what is known? God is with me no matter what I’m facing; I know God is with me. Remember at the birth of Jesus they called him Immanuel which means God is with us. What is known is that God was with them in the fire, in a lion’s den, and in a storm, therefore; I have faith that God will be with me throughout every difficult place in life.

Forward Thinkers, can you still have the will power to stand in the face of death if you knew you were going to die? Hezekiah in 2 Kings is told he is going to die and to get his house in order. Even after God extended his life fifteen years, he still knew in fifteen years he is going to die. Forward Thinkers, our present reality is we don’t know when or how we are going to die; therefore, we must follow the instructions given to Hezekiah and get our house in order.

Forward Thinkers, the key here as a Believer is not focusing on dying but focusing on living. We have to have the will power to stand even in the face of death.

Is faith unused really faith?

Forward Thinkers, it’s no secret I’m a big sports fan, therefore; my television stays on ESPN majority of the time and I became a big fan of Stuart Scott. Stuart Scott was a sportscaster who did it his way even though people told him his way would not work on main stream television; maybe BET but not ESPN. In spite of what others said, Scott became one of the biggest names in sports. Forward Thinkers, Stuart Scott became a walking quote machine:

“Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.” Stuart Scott

Forward Thinkers, what Scott was saying here is that, when God created us, he created us to be who he created us to be and we must stop spending so much time and energy in life trying to be someone else. Forward Thinkers, one of the greatest freedoms available to man is the freedom to be yourself.

Forward Thinkers, in November 2007, Stuart Scott received the bad news that he had cancer. He refused to back down and said he would not allow cancer to dictate how he lived. Forward Thinkers, Scott prided himself with being a great father to his two daughters and said he would fight cancer to the end for them.

Forward Thinkers, people with cancer saw him as a beacon of light and used his journey to motivate them in their journey. I have a question, Forward Thinkers? When you’re dealing with the difficulties of life, how do people see you? Are you viewed as a Champion or Chump?

Forward Thinkers, Stuart Scott died on January 4, 2015 but he lived with cancer on his own terms. “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” Stuart Scott

Forward Thinkers, remember, God told Hezekiah to get his house in order. How you know if you’re ready to die is answered by how you are living right now.

Forward Thinkers, in conclusion, seven year old Sailor and Stuart Scott’s seven year public battle with cancer are perfect examples of the will power to stand in the face of death but today I’m going to close with a very personal story of one of my heroes of faith who battled ALS for seven years; my friend William Harris, Jr. (former University of Texas and NFL football player) who like Stuart Scott fought the good fight of faith because he had two daughters to win for. Forward Thinkers, one of his last words almost a year ago to his wife was “LOOK UP” and every time she lowered her head he would say again “LOOK UP.” So my final words today to you are no matter what you’re dealing with or going through “LOOK UP”; the Lord God is with you.

Forward Thinkers, keep looking up and remember to continue to release the will power to stand no matter what situation or condition you’re standing in.

Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, 16711 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas, 77090. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com or the church website www.ghic.net

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COMMENTARY: Prayer is Your Power

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2023

Oakland Post

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us.

Faithful Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew | Texas Metro News

This week, a friend informed me that she was following the ambulance to the hospital with her husband. Her husband was going through a major health crisis. She wasn’t the only one who reached out—a friend’s mother had unexplained pain and another friend contacted me about her friend’s son who was hospitalized with pneumonia. Each of them asked that I pray for them.

I consider it an honor to pray for others. Prayer is powerful and I love that I have a group of friends who I can turn to that I call the “prayer warriors” that when I send a text to lift up the concerns and issues of others before God, they go into battle mode.

Prayer is a weapon and I think many of us don’t understand its power until we need it. For many of us, it’s a routine, something that’s more about religion than it is about relationship. We have gotten prayer twisted as some exchange solely for stuff. God is not a celestial Santa Claus dropping off gifts. Prayer is an opportunity to go before to God sincerely in relationship. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:5–8)

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) I realize that my prayers are even more powerful when I am in relationship with others seeking God: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). It’s dangerous when we see prayer as a way to manipulate God into doing what we want. There is nothing wrong with bringing your requests before God but it’s important to check our motivation and intention. It’s also important to know that just because God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way that we want does not mean that God doesn’t love us.

It doesn’t mean that God does not hear us. It does not negate the omnipotence or goodness of God, either. We must believe that God is able. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) It’s easy to blame God when things don’t go the way we want them to—”the rain falls on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Terrible things happen to good people often. We live in an unjust world with people making decisions that are informed more by profit than people. We cannot take those principles into our relationship with God. We must believe that “… all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) …. God is concerned with our hearts, with people and cares for us even when things don’t go the way we’d like. I can report that all of the individuals we prayed for had excellent results.

God is good! Yet, I realize that this isn’t always the case. Prayer is powerful. God wants us to have this daily form of communication. 1 John 5:14, tells us: “And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Don’t use prayer just when you need something. Just as all relationships require consistent communication for growth and results, the same is even more important in our relationship with God. Prayer is a powerful partnership with God that can move mountains when we believe!

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.

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Black History

AFRICAN-ISH: The First Christmas Story

Both Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of David, Joseph descended from David’s son Solomon (and Bathsheba), and Mary extended from another son Nathan. Therefore, they were required to go to the little town of Bethlehem, in Judea and there, in a cattle shed Jesus was born. (Bethlehem is 70 miles south of Nazareth and 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem).

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2022

Oakland Post

The four Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior.

By Simon Burris

The narrative of Jesus’ birth and proof of his Hamitic (Black) African bloodline* began in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis chapter 10, in the Land of Ham, located in southwest Asia and Africa. Three most prominent Hamitic personalities: Abraham, Isaiah and David.

People and places of Hamitic origins are underlined.

(1) Abraham the patriarch was Babylonian (Ethnic Ethiopian). Gen. 11:31; (2) Isaiah a prophet lived 750 years before Christ, predicted the virgin birth was a nephew of Amaziah a Judahite (Canaanite) king; and (3) David the great king of Israel was a descendant of Abraham, also of Tamar and Rahab (Canaanites).

The (Hamitic) Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-34

The Birth of Jesus: (about 6-4 BC)

Mary the virgin mother of Jesus and her husband Joseph the “foster” father of Jesus, a carpenter, lived in Nazareth, a town in northern Palestine.

At this time Emperor Augustus of the Roman Empire decreed that a census would be taken. Everyone in his domain had to go to his or her hometown to register. He probably ordered Cyrenius ( Quirinius ) the Afro Roman governor of Syria / Judeadistrict to take charge and supervise the mandate.

A short time later shepherds from the countryside as well as Wise Men (Magi) from neighboring countries Arabia, Babylonia,and Persia traveled to the nativity site, paid homage and worshiped the infant-Savior.

Now Joseph was warned by the Lord in a dream that Herod the Edomite king of Judea was plotting the murder of the child, fled with his family to Egypt, returning to Nazareth after the death of Herod.

Jesus had siblings, brothers Joseph, Simon, Epistle writers James, Jude, and several sisters. The last mention of Joseph occurs in the Gospel of Luke when he and Mary take the 12-year-old Jesus to Jerusalem. Mary played a vital role all through Jesus’ life, from the day He was born till the time of the crucifixion.

Conclusion: The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior. *Descendants of Ham’s sons Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), Put (Libya) and Canaan (Ancient Palestine/Israel). Genesis 10: 6-20

Footnotes: Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?

The ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice on December 25 as the birthday of the SUN; the Babylonians and Persians -SON of the SUN. Some 300 plus years after Jesus’ earthly demise, Roman Emperor Constantine in 336 legalized this date as the birthday of the SON of GOD – JESUS the CHRIST! Originally: Christ’s Mass.

Eurocentric racism: Pope Julius II in 1508 commissioned Michelangelo, Raphael and other Renaissance artists and church scholars to portray and depict almost all major biblical characters as Europeans (Caucasians), save servants and slaves.

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Activism

SDA Churches Join Outreach Efforts to Find Solutions to Upsurge of Violence

the Northern California Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) held their annual Convocation at Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church in Oakland. Seven hundred people came together in celebration and worship. The theme was “Embracing Change.”

Published

2 years ago

October 16, 2022

Oakland Post

From left to right: Pastor Raymond Lankford, Elder Busayo Alabi, Pastor Damon Washington, Sister Rose Robinson, Pastor Garrett Anderson, Pastor Edwin Brown, Pastor Willie Johnson, Pastor Virgil Childs.

By Post Staff

On Oct. 8, the Northern California Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) held their annual Convocation at Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church in Oakland. Seven hundred people came together in celebration and worship. The theme was “Embracing Change.” The guest speaker was Dr. Myron Edmonds, who pastors in Cleveland, Ohio. He spoke about how Christ wasn’t a traditionalist, and the work isn’t being done because some in the church don’t wish to change and they tend to demonize new ideas.

Throughout the day, the Mobile Medical Health Van operated by Immanuel Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church out of Oakland sat in front of the church and provided health screenings and community resource information to the general public. The Medical Van, which was gifted to the church by Pastor Raymond Lankford of Healthy Communities, has provided free health care services throughout Alameda County for the last few years. The prayer of Pastor Damon Washington of Immanuel Temple Church, who was ordained during the afternoon program, is for their health ministry to partner with the other providers like OPIC and Oakland Workforce Agencies and to combat the ongoing health disparities and violence within the city and beyond.

They have pledged to work with the Chaplains, the OPIC and the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back, who want to make amends for the damages they have done to harm Oakland.